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Muschialli L, Yang JC, Engstrom T, Puljevic C, Beltazar E, Beltazar E, Siddique O, Ferris J, Connolly DJ. Sexualized drug use and chemsex: A bibliometric and content analysis of published literature. J Psychoactive Drugs 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38961638 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2367614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Sexualized drug use (SDU) describes drug-facilitated sexual enhancement, and chemsex is an SDU subculture involving the use of specific drugs by men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to identify research trends, foci, and themes within the SDU and chemsex-specific literature. The Web of Science Core Collection was searched with a list of SDU synonyms. All SDU-related articles were analyzed using the R package, bibliometrix. Full text review identified chemsex-specific records, and text was extracted verbatim for content analysis in Leximancer. The search returned 1,866 unique records. A total of 521 addressed SDU, and 301 papers specifically addressed chemsex. The small but growing SDU literature primarily addressed consensual encounters between MSM, and drug-facilitated assault experienced by women, in Western settings. Little attention was given to transgender communities or consensual SDU in cisgender heterosexual individuals. The literature primarily viewed SDU through a public health lens, specifically focusing on the risk conferred to sexual health.The SDU and chemsex-specific literature are potentially limited in scope and may inadequately capture the geographical, demographic, and cultural diversity of these phenomena. Future research should address the myriad social and health implications of SDU and chemsex participation across all relevant communities and settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Muschialli
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Justin C Yang
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Teyl Engstrom
- Queensland Digital Health Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cheneal Puljevic
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Hesrtone, Queensland, Australia
| | | | | | - Owais Siddique
- UCL Medical School, Faculty of Medical Sciences, London, UK
| | - Jason Ferris
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dean J Connolly
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- National Addiction Centre, King's College London, London, UK
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
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Kelly PJ, Myers-Matthews P, Collins AB, Wolfe HL, Miller-Jacobs C, Davis M, Adrian H, Briody V, Fernández Y, Operario D, Hughto JM. A qualitative study of reasons to use substances and substance use treatment experiences among transgender and gender diverse adults in Rhode Island. SSM. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN HEALTH 2024; 5:100399. [PMID: 38854803 PMCID: PMC11157666 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J.A. Kelly
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Center for Promotion and Health Equity, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-121-8, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | | | - Alexandra B. Collins
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Hill L. Wolfe
- Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Cameron Miller-Jacobs
- Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Madison Davis
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Haley Adrian
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Victoria Briody
- Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Yohansa Fernández
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Don Operario
- Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Jaclyn M.W. Hughto
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Center for Promotion and Health Equity, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-121-8, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, 1340 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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Davies EL, Ezquerra-Romano I, Thayne B, Holloway Z, Bayliss J, O'Callaghan S, Connolly DJ. Discrimination, gender dysphoria, drinking to cope, and alcohol harms in the UK trans and non-binary community. Alcohol Alcohol 2024; 59:agad060. [PMID: 37850541 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgender (trans) and non-binary people may be at increased risk of alcohol harms, but little is known about motives for drinking in this community. This study explored the relationship between risk of alcohol dependence, experience of alcohol harms, drinking motives, dysphoria, and discrimination within a United Kingdom sample of trans and non-binary people with a lifetime history of alcohol use. A cross-sectional survey was co-produced with community stakeholders and administered to a purposive sample of trans and non-binary people from 1 February until 31 March 2022. A total of 462 respondents were included-159 identified as non-binary and/or genderqueer (identities outside the man/woman binary), 135 solely as women, 63 solely as men, 15 as another gender identity, 90 selected multiple identities. Higher levels of reported discrimination were associated with higher risk of dependence and more reported harms from drinking. Coping motives, enhancement motives, and drinking to manage dysphoria were associated with higher Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores. Social, coping, and enhancement motives alongside discrimination and drinking to have sex were associated with harms. The relationship between discrimination and risk of dependence was mediated by coping motives and drinking to manage dysphoria. Further to these associations, we suggest that reducing discrimination against trans and non-binary communities might reduce alcohol harms in this population. Interventions should target enhancement motives, coping motives and gender dysphoria. Social and enhancement functions of alcohol could be replaced by alcohol free supportive social spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Davies
- Centre for Psychological Research, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus, Oxford, OX3 0PB, United Kingdom
| | - Ivan Ezquerra-Romano
- Drugs and Me, 128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, Alexandra House, 17-19 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Beth Thayne
- ClimatePartner GmbH, 59 St. -Martin-Str., Munich, Bavaria, 81669, Germany
| | - Zhi Holloway
- Adero Ltd, 71-75 Shelton St, London WC2H 9JQ, United Kingdom
| | - Jacob Bayliss
- LGBT Switchboard, 113 Queens Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 3XG United Kingdom
| | - Stewart O'Callaghan
- OUTpatients (formerly Live Through This), LGBTIQ+ Cancer Charity, 92-94 Wallis Road London E9 5LN, United Kingdom
| | - Dean J Connolly
- Centre for Psychological Research, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus, Oxford, OX3 0PB, United Kingdom
- Mortimer Market Centre, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Capper St, London WC1E 6JB, United Kingdom
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McCormack M, Measham F, Measham M, Wignall L. Kink in an English Field: The Drinking, Drug use and Sexual Practices of English Festival-Goers Who Engage in Kink. SEXUALITY & CULTURE 2022; 26:1750-1765. [PMID: 35496643 PMCID: PMC9043504 DOI: 10.1007/s12119-022-09968-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the other leisure activities of people who engage in kink, including sexual practices and the use of alcohol and other drugs. This article examines the drinking, illicit drug use and sexual practices of people who engage in kink from a novel sample of attendees at an English festival. Of 966 respondents, 64 reported having engaged in kink within the past 12 months. We provide evidence of these respondents' self-reported demographic characteristics, alcohol and other drug use in their lifetime and within the past 12 months, as well as other sexual practices they engaged in. This study illustrates the value of accessing participants through in situ festival fieldwork to understand kink practices, and helps us move beyond notions of clustered risky activities toward a leisure studies approach to understanding the practices of people who engage in kink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark McCormack
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Roehampton, Roehampton Lane, London, SW15 5PU UK
| | - Fiona Measham
- School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Liam Wignall
- Department of Psychology, University of Bournemouth, Poole, UK
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Íncera-Fernández D, Gámez-Guadix M, Moreno-Guillén S. Mental Health Symptoms Associated with Sexualized Drug Use (Chemsex) among Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182413299. [PMID: 34948907 PMCID: PMC8701799 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Background: Sexualized drug use (SDU), also known as chemsex, refers to the use of psychoactive substances for sexual purposes among men who have sex with men (MSM), which has been associated with mental health symptoms. The objective of this review is to systematically review the available evidence on mental health outcomes in MSM who use sexualized drugs. Methods: To prepare this systematic review, search strategies were developed and applied to the Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus databases. A total of 117 articles were found, of which 12 were selected for the final review. Results: Those MSM who practiced SDU were more likely to experience from depression, anxiety, or a substance dependence, although these results were not found in all the studies analyzed. Among those who practiced the administration of intravenous drugs (referred to as slamsex), the mental health symptoms were more severe. Conclusions: This systematic review contributes to a fuller understanding of the mental health symptoms present in MSM who consume drugs for sexual purposes. Greater uniformity in data collection instruments is required, as well as the need to conduct a more in-depth assessment of the psychosocial adjustment of people who practice chemsex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Íncera-Fernández
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-686-454-251
| | - Manuel Gámez-Guadix
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Santiago Moreno-Guillén
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Alcalá University, 28871 Alcala de Henares, Spain;
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Human enhancement drugs: Emerging issues and responses. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 95:103459. [PMID: 34654540 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Lorenz TK. Sexual excitation and sex-linked substance use predict overall cannabis use in mostly heterosexual and bisexual women. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2021; 47:433-443. [PMID: 34114916 PMCID: PMC8380726 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2021.1922429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Background: Bisexual and mostly heterosexual women report higher substance use than exclusively heterosexual or lesbian women. In sexual minority men, sex-linked substance use (SLSU) can increase risk for substance use problems; equivalent research in women is lacking.Objectives: To test if sexual excitation and inhibition mediate the association between sexual minority status and women's SLSU.Methods: We surveyed a convenience sample of 595 undergraduate women who identified as exclusively heterosexual (n = 499), mostly heterosexual (n = 59), or bisexual (n = 37). Participants reported on their last month use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs (e.g., cocaine) in sexual and non-sexual contexts, and symptoms of alcohol and non-alcohol drug use disorders (e.g., withdrawal symptoms). Drug use symptoms were collapsed across non-alcohol substances. We used structural equation modeling to test serial mediations of women's SLSU and overall drug and alcohol use.Results: Bisexual and mostly heterosexual women reported higher cannabis use (η2 = 0.030) and drug use disorder symptoms (η2 = 0.050) than heterosexual women. Mostly heterosexual women's SLSU was a stronger predictor of alcohol use (η2 = 0.019) and binge drinking frequency (η2 = 0.015) than for other orientation groups. Bisexual and mostly heterosexual women's higher sexual excitation predicted their higher SLSU, which in turn predicted higher cannabis use frequency and drug use disorder symptoms. However, sexual inhibition failed to mediate either SLSU or overall substance use.Conclusion: These findings point to SLSU as a mechanism by which sexual minority women may experience disparities in substance use related harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tierney K Lorenz
- Department of Psychology and Center for Brain, Biology & Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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